Off right now.

Welcome into the heart of Bell Country.

It's day one of the Centennial Bank state baseball and softball championships.

Roll it on from Bear Stadium in Conway, Arkansas.

It's the one day state title game.

Saint Joseph and Taylor duking it out for the one state title.

I'm JB Rossdale alongside the infamous Kevin Bohanon.

Glad you're here with us for what should be a really, really good matchup as we look at what's coming up ahead, what we've already had today.

The softball champion was crowned.

It was Taylor knocking off Concord in the first matchup.

This one today.

And two more to follow Kevin.

Absolutely.

Play softball this afternoon at 4 p.m.. Sheridan and Benton, two rivals that know each other very well.

And in the five eight east battle for the five state championship tonight between Marion and Valley.

It should be a lot of fun.

Keep an eye on those games to come, but let's take a peek at last year's matchup.

Taylor and West Side in the one eight state title game.

Taylor came to town and they were ready to play.

Absolutely.

Taylor was going for a three peat last season.

They got it over Westside Greers Ferry.

These two teams played each other in the semifinals this year.

You see Taylor got up early two to nothing in this game and never looked back.

JB the bats were in action aplenty.

Whalen Waddell was a large part of that.

Graduated.

They still got a really good class.

Do the Tigers.

Anytime.

You can make it this many times but you're going for a four peat.

Coach Fowler's got things rolling down there in Taylor.

That's exactly right.

And if we're looking at Saint Joe's today, their player to watch George here.

What a sophomore JB.

He's hitting 561 this year 33 RBI 16 doubles.

And J.B. he's only struck out three times this season.

I think it's safe to say one of the best sophomores in the country across all levels.

That guy can play.

They're going to need him to play at his highest level.

If they can beat Taylor, who's going for their fourth straight Tyler title.

But the Tigers, well, they've got a guy that they really can lean on.

Jesse Humphreys can hit the baseball.

Yeah, he's hitting in the middle of their lineup.

He's a cleanup hitter, big first baseman.

He's hitting for 18 this year.

Ten doubles, a whopping 47 RBI's.

Eight of these players in the starting lineup played for Taylor last year.

So coach Brian Fowler, it's another year.

They're just happy to get off the bus.

Last day of the season at UCA.

Those 47 RBI's really stick out this weekend though.

Weather may be a factor today.

Hoping that's not the case.

80 degrees.

Beautiful weather for some baseball here in the middle of the day of Thursday afternoon.

Matchup between Taylor and Saint Joseph.

We'll get you set for first pitch when we come back from Conway.

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The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas proudly support high school students and athletics in Arkansas, and hope you enjoy watching the state championship games on Arkansas.

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Broadcast of this championship game is made possible championship baseball, so PBS and Saint Joseph's just about said it will be Jacob Vandenberg, the right hander for the Tigers.

He's got some good numbers.

Absolutely.

He started last year's state championship game at shortstop.

But, he's getting on the mound this year.

JV and he's going to work mainly fastball slider, changeup.

See if he can get ahead in the count early.

He'll start things off with Travis Jackson the righty he is set comes home.

And we are underway in the one AA state championship game.

Taylor going for a four peat.

Saint Joseph their only state title back in 2013.

This is their third title appearance.

And it's two balls and no strikes.

This start from Vandenberg to Travis Jackson and he's got a hitter's count.

You see, he worked first pitch fastball, then goes to an offspeed pitch trying to keep him off balance early.

Jackson trying to start things off for Saint Joseph.

There's his strike for Vandenberg.

Two balls and one strike.

George here will bat two.

Oh, he's the sophomore phenom.

We've talked about Trevor Jackson.

Travis, his older brother, will start on the mound.

He'll bat in the three spot is there's a foul back into the netting at two and two.

We talked to Coach Davis before the game.

And he said his Bulldog lineup has done a better job of hitting this year.

If they get to the semifinals and lost to Taylor last two years.

Here's a look at the Winter Rock automotive lineups.

Jackson here Jackson, Coney, Royal Rapids, Stowe, ball, Imboden and Hollowell is the two to challenge fouled back again good battle.

Vandenberg fell behind early.

Found the strike zone.

And now we got a good battle to begin the ballgame.

Yeah.

And that's what you want from your leadoff hitter Jackson.

Foul off.

You get borderline pitches.

Stay alive to fight another pitch.

Really nice job by the Bulldogs second baseman Travis Jackson continuing to battle.

Does it again.

Pokes it late but stays alive, letting that travel deep.

This has been a really, really good at bat.

Early that you want to see how deep you can get into an at bat, and if you can get that pitcher pitch, count up.

Travis Jackson, a freshman.

Coach, says he's an athlete, quiet leader, and he'll draw a full count as Vandenberg curveball gets away.

And one thing we've talked about this Bulldogs team, they only have 11 players dressed out.

They've got eight underclassmen.

And I'm talking about freshmen and sophomores on their roster.

So this is a team that could have some staying power in class one.

The power pitch to Jackson in off the fist fouls it away.

Eight pitch at bat to begin the ballgame.

That's just what the doctor ordered for Coach Davis Travis Jackson doing his job at the top of the lineup.

Yeah, last year, Saint Joe's relied heavily on pitching this year.

More of an offensive approach.

You can see it early on in this game.

Vandenberg trying to win the battle.

Jackson trying to stay on lines out into center field.

But it hangs up long enough for Barton.

He makes the catch.

A really good battle though from Jackson allowed out.

And that's the first one of the game.

Here's a look at that defensive alignment for the Taylor Tigers.

When Rock automotive defensive lineman Jasper Jones Wade Barton Caleb Downs left right in the outfield.

Smith, Fowler and Humphreys left right in the infield.

It's Vandenberg on the bump and Cason Anders the backstop.

Yeah.

The last couple of years it's been a senior laden Taylor team.

Good pitch right there.

George here standing in shortstop for Saint Joseph.

Good set.

Sophomore.

Good size, good play or two.

Rips that one right back through the box.

A one out single for George here.

Saint Joseph, aggressive weather.

The two spot.

And that'll start things off for the Bulldogs.

J.B., you can see why he's hitting 561.

Simple line drive approach.

Not trying to do too much.

Just shot it right back up the middle.

Touch a little.

Nice job.

Simple.

Yeah.

Stay on the ball.

That was a ball on the outside.

Outer third right there.

And he did a great job right back where it came from seeing guys single.

That's right Trevor Jackson now the starting pitcher for Saint Joseph will step in the first pitch Joseph goes opposite field down the right field line.

Could be problems.

It gets by downs and it's going to the wall.

Extra bases for Saint Joseph.

They'll hold the runner at third and George here.

But Saint Joseph putting bat on ball and it pays off.

Yeah playing early in the game was to be aggressive in the zone.

We talked to Coach Davis.

Like I said before the game they were going to be aggressive early in the zone.

That's exactly what they're doing so far JB let's look at Vandenberg pitching outside.

Nice job from Trevor Jackson to go with the pitch.

Downs made a bid was going to be a tough play on the run.

Gets away in Saint Joseph.

The Bulldogs are in business for their cleanup hitter.

Oh and Coney.

Yeah.

Here.

Had to hold up just a little bit or he would have scored on that play for sure.

They indeed ruled out a double down the right field line.

So after Travis Jackson lined out to center field for the first out productive though, a lot of pitches thrown back to back hits for Saint Joseph, the extra base hits got them and a chance to strike first with Owen Coney, and he takes a strike on the outer half.

It's one and one.

Love the love.

The early approach by these by these hitters.

JB you can just see they have a lot of confidence stepping in the box.

Like we said, these two teams have played each other in the semifinals the last two seasons.

Saint Joe's playing with a little chip on the shoulder early on.

Oh, and Coney, a 418 hitter.

Takes a big act out that time.

Fouls it off to our umpire down the third baseline.

Our crew today in the one a state title game Jeff farmers behind the plate Alan Stafford over at first and Bobby Tillery making the play there.

The umpire third.

And you mentioned Kevin first time this that these guys will umpire state title game.

But first state championship game for all three of these guys.

It's something that you work towards in your high school career.

Something you want to be a part of is is Weekend of Champions for sure.

Good take from Owen Coney.

Two balls, two strikes.

The lefty got a chance to do a job.

First base is open with Patrick Royal waiting on deck.

They try to hold the runner at second and Jackson close two two is fouled away.

Good challenge from Vandenberg.

This is some early pressure to the starter and Vandenberg Jacob Vandenberg going to find try to have to find a way to dig out of this a little bit.

He's ran in situations like this before.

Yeah.

And we talk about it.

You working with traffic on the bases?

Vandenberg already pitches from the stretch when nobody is on base.

So it's nothing really new to him.

And Second Third's a good situation to be in with your first runners on base.

Another two to Coney opposite field in the air diving catch.

It's made by Jasper Jones in left field.

It'll be a sacrifice though.

Saint Joseph strikes first.

It's one to nothing but a heck of a play in left field from Jasper Jones.

Two great plays all the way around there.

You got to give it to George here.

He didn't take off for a sophomore not to get too anxious at third base.

He tagged up, got the run in A10 Bulldogs lead early on.

You got to see how Taylor responds to this right now.

But yes a great catch.

That's the toughest play to make.

When it's right in front of you.

You have to dive right at the baseball because you you lose your depth perception on that.

And that ball's dropping quickly.

Here's the other thing.

Tested with the lefty.

Yeah.

If that ball drops, it's going all the way.

At least close to the wall clearing the bases.

Big play.

It's one to nothing.

Saint Joseph strikes first standing inside the catcher Patrick Royal.

So the Bulldogs doing what they need to do I talked to Coach Beck, the first base coach.

Former team mate of mine.

Mind you, back in the day, he talked about how it's important for them to strike first, get a little momentum early.

Yeah.

And Beck was the MVP of the state championship team in 2013.

Coming back to his alma mater.

That's right.

Little chopper to that left side of the infield should end the inning.

High throw to unfreeze from Huxley.

He makes the snag, but Saint Joseph strikes first.

They're up one to nothing in the top of the first.

Team sports in Arkansas really is the building of character.

It's being able to get through trials and tribulations as a team.

You take those lessons from team sports and use them in everyday life situations.

I'm RJ Hawke, please consider giving to Arkansas PBS sports.

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Welcome back to Conway, Arkansas.

Saint Joseph, the Bulldogs strike!

First up, one to nothing over Taylor.

As we head to the bottom of the first, let's take a look at the Tiger lineup.

It's Jasper Jones getting to lead things off.

Made a heroic play out there in left field.

Likely could be a play that we pinpoint later on in the broadcast of how big it was.

Wade Barton will follow with Tucker Smith and then Jesse Humphries the big fella out of the cleanup spot.

Boy, he can rake five, six and seven hits Caleb Downs, Kason Anders, Aiden Horsley, Max Montgomery's the D.H. and Jacob Vandenberg.

The pitcher will battle in the ninth spot, all brought to you by one Rock automotive.

Those defensive line up for the offensive line ups here for the Tigers.

Yeah Humphreys hit in the middle of the order last year.

Vandenberg we talked with coach Brian Fowler.

Said he may be one of the best nine hole hitters in the country right now.

Definitely one of the hottest.

So keep an eye on they're going to be really good one through nine.

The thing about Taylor, they will play small ball, which I call opportunistic baseball.

They don't hit a lot of home runs.

And especially at UCA it plays like a bone yard out there in center field.

You won't get too many out of the park today, so look for them to take advantage early.

Put some pressure on this Saint Jose, see how they react in certain bunt coverages.

And for Saint Joseph on the bump, it's Trevor Jackson, the junior older brother of Travis Jackson.

Trevor Jackson thrown 45 a two thirds innings.

He's eight and zero on the year, only giving up five earned runs.

He's got a .766 E.R.A.

A sub1 E.R.A.

For Ronnie Jackson.

They're going to ride him as long as he can go.

It's going to be important for Taylor to try to get a jump on him early, because when he gets in a groove, he's almost unhittable.

Yeah, Jackson offers a little bit of different arm.

He will come out of a lower three quarter slot that produces a lot of arm side run.

So a lot of these right handers are going to have two seam fastballs, run in on them.

They get to get the barrel out in front of them to the ball in that situation.

That way they're not fouling them off, dinking it back to the pitcher all day.

So Jasper Jones will step in first for Taylor.

He takes the first pitch from Jackson up and in on the year.

Jasper Jones a 359 average out of that leadoff spot.

Three doubles, a triple knows how to get on base as well.

19 walks on the season.

Jackson pumps in a strike.

It's one and one.

Is key for Jackson.

He's a junior.

Really good curveball right there.

Nice slow looping curveball.

Catches the outer bottom portion of the zone and Jackson gets ahead a ball two strikes.

Jasper Jones going to have to protect one two rips it opposite field but foul.

Well struck but just foul down the right field line.

Yeah Jones made that really good catch in the first inning.

How many times are we seeing it on Sportscenter.

Make a great play in the field.

Come up and get a hit the next at bat.

Jasper Jones certainly trying to cash in after a great defensive play in the top of the first, worked as a sacrifice fly but could have been more rolls over this one.

Fouled to the left side this time.

Nice job from Trevor Jackson mixing his speed a little bit trying to get him off balance.

Yeah that's one of the things that Coach Davis said.

You know they had two really good arms last year Nicholas French being one of them started the semifinals against Taylor.

They had a lot of good stuff.

He said the pitching staff this year, they have just competed bare.

They don't walk anybody.

Coach Davis said.

If they can walk three or less, they feel really good about winning the ball game.

Jackson had two tires retie his shoe.

You got to make sure Velcro leg that's that's what they need, right?

It's like Deebo moments like these.

Yeah.

Nice.

One ball two strikes is too tall for Jones.

That one a been out of the zone.

Not going to be close enough to be enticing for Jones to offer.

Yeah that's what you want.

Are your leadoff hitter work the count.

You've already got it to two two right now.

Wade Barton waits in the on deck circle.

Close on that one but just a bit outside.

Full count.

We've seen that from both leadoff hitters in this game.

Back in the top of the first Travis Jackson the freshman works the count before lining out.

It's three two.

And it's a walk to Jasper Jones.

He's fired up.

He was behind one ball two strikes worked the count and it pays off.

That's exactly right.

Now let's see if they if Coach Fowler starts the engines early in this game they like to run.

Jones been leadoff hitter.

Let's see how Jackson responds to traffic on the base pads right here.

Aggression is the name of the game.

Two Taylor likes to apply pressure.

They've got speed with Wade Barton due up.

Barton a 400 batting average a 0.588 OBP.

So he knows how to get on base.

Draws a lot of walks nine doubles on the year out of that two spot.

Got some power.

Taylor has they do not have a lefty in the lineup.

So they're going to be right on right all game.

You don't see that too often.

No you really don't.

You don't see it in lower classifications.

You're you're your pool to choose from from players a little smaller.

So not too surprising.

Runner is on the move.

Jasper Jones.

And he's hung out to dry the hose from Patrick Royal.

And he guns him down at second for the first down.

Great throw right there by Patrick Roy.

And they knew it was coming.

Two even though Jackson had a high leg kick Jones may have gotten a late jump over there.

We know we're playing on turf here.

These guys don't play on turf a lot.

So it's a little different, surface out there that you're trying to get Ahold of early on in the game.

There's a defensive line it for Saint Joseph Hollowell sto.

Ball Imboden from left to right in the outfield.

You got rappel here Jackson Coney left to right on the infield.

Pat Royal you got to see his hose on display.

Just a moment ago.

Gunning down a very speedy runner in Jasper Jones three.

Oh.

Pitch up and in.

Hit him.

So a hit by pitch will put another runner aboard for Taylor.

They've got the first two runners on but the caught stealing is got them with one out.

Yeah.

Early on in the game they're going to test and test and see how they look.

You see right here Jackson.

That arm side run just runs right up and in on him right here.

Just gets him right in the middle of the four.

So they don't always feel very good does it.

Does it.

Especially when it's three.

No.

You think I'm going to get on base either way I might as well just hit him.

So Jackson, two free passes to being in the ballgame.

The court stealing looming big now.

Nice jump from Royal and the Bulldogs.

But now Tucker Smith the three hole hitter for Taylor is due up 359 average 25 runs driven in eight doubles.

The Bulldogs going to try to keep him close over at first base.

Wade Barton He's also a threat to do some running out there.

The center fielder for the Tigers.

They can fly now.

We'll see how Jackson handles the runners on the base.

Pass right here.

Big leg kick.

Runners going to go again.

This time they swipe the bag Taylor applying pressure and back to back sequences.

First time caught stealing it.

This time it pays off big.

Yep.

First runner in scoring position of the day for the Taylor Tigers.

Let's see if they take advantage of some opportunistic baseball right here.

Great jump.

Big leg kick there still in that off the Jackson right there.

Royal could have made a great throw.

Didn't matter right there.

It didn't matter if he had the arm of Yadi or Molina.

He was going to swipe that bag.

So Barton's in scoring position and Taylor's got the right guys.

Do up Tucker Smith can run produce and Jesse Humphreys in the on deck circle.

Boy he's going to have a crack in this inning barring a double play.

Yeah.

Royal just trying to settle down Jackson right there.

Hey give me a chance.

That's what.

That's what he's telling his pitcher right there.

Hey, let's not go with the big let kid go with the slide step.

We know these guys are going to run.

Let's try to get him on the base pass.

And you see, with Taylor applying pressure I talked to Coach Fowler before the game.

He said they didn't practice on artificial turf.

They practice on their dirt field but they slid in the gym.

They said they wanted to emulate as close as they could in their own gym.

They want to stay close.

And so that's what they did.

Pop up foul ground.

Long run for royal catcher.

The athleticism.

But that one just too far out of reach.

Yeah.

And one thing that's going to be different for these players is the foul territory.

You know high school fields especially 182838.

They don't have expansive best foul lines out there at UCA.

You get a lot of territory to cover out there.

So one that may you think just flies over your head and into the stands is in play.

Like on that one right there.

So got to give chase every time Trevor Jackson falling behind Tucker Smith now.

Two balls and one strike chokes up on the bat a little bit.

Pops foul again.

So good battle at the plate for Tucker Smith.

This is a big opportunity.

Early Bulldogs struck first in the top half of the inning to begin the ballgame.

Taylor gets the first two on two caught stealing.

They swipe a bag but for Saint Joseph they want to keep it right where it's at.

They know Taylor can score in bunches and see how they do with two strike approach right here.

You can see he's choking up a little bit on the bat two two down and away.

And that's going to run the count for great job by Royal back there I like him.

He's a dirt bag.

That's what we like to see back there.

You know he got inserted into the lineup later.

Surprise catcher coach Davis said.

Due to injury lined up as the starting catcher.

That one smoked foul down the right field line out of play.

Tucker Smith letting it travel deep.

Got a barrel to it but pushed it foul.

Yep.

Likely ball four right there.

But that it's hard to lay off those pitches up in the zone right there.

As you can see.

That's it.

That's the ones where your eyes really light up.

You start seeing beach balls at the plate.

But if you got quick hands yeah, go get it like Vladimir Guerrero.

Right.

Anyway, to make it hit it off a shoe tops.

Tucker Smith, that kind of guy payoff pitch slow looping curb popped him up.

Could be trouble though.

In the left field on comes Hollowell and he makes the snag for the second out of the inning.

That's a big out for Trevor Jackson, but he's not out of the woods yet.

Our player to watch Jesse Humphries about to step in yeah unfreeze.

We talked about it 47 RBI's on the year.

Leads the team.

The ten doubles stand out any time in high school baseball where you can get to double digits on extra base hits.

That means you got a slugging percentage that runs up there.

Humphries on the season, a big lefty, a 418 average, ten doubles on the year, two home runs.

But check this 47 RBI's.

They don't play that many games.

That's averaging about two runs driven in a game for the lefty.

And I want to correct myself.

Humphries is swinging it from the left side, grounds it to second base though.

Wow.

Damage averted.

Nice job from Trevor Jackson.

He's fired up that ends the inning.

We've played one from Conway.

It's Bulldogs up one to nothing.

This month on Arkansas PBS.

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Well, that sounds pretty good.

To be talking about mushroom bacon cheeseburgers right now.

It's too early.

A little bit past lunchtime.

Maybe an early or early dinner or early dinner.

Well.

Taylor.

Tigers unable to cash in with a runner in scoring position.

Saint Joseph with the only hits of the game this far.

A single and a double.

The Tigers did get a couple of baserunners on, but caught stealing might have loomed big.

We talked about it.

Yeah, and what we've seen in the past is these these pitchers usually settle down after that first inning.

They get the adrenaline out and they just settle in and start pitching.

So now standing in to begin the top of the second for the Bulldogs, it's Jake Arap old, a 263 hitter.

Out of that sixth spot for Saint Joseph.

Takes till he gets a strike, gets one.

And it's one ball and one strike.

Really good pitch right there by Vandenberg.

Looks it looks almost like a cutter is what he's throwing.

He may get on the side of that ball Ole Miss got a little bit late movement in it.

And Enberg just missed upstairs on that one trying to drop it into the zone, but to no avail.

Yep.

Batters and pitches.

They got a really good consistent zone so far.

That's what they do.

That's one of the things the key point small things of the game.

They want to learn early in the game.

Hitters count gets the strike on the upper inner part portion of the zone.

Two balls, two strikes from Vandenberg, who's got a 2.15 ERA on the season, threw 39 innings pitched, 29 strikeouts, 12 walks for the righty trying to make it 30 strikeouts.

And he'll do it.

Foul tip into the catcher's mitt.

Vandenberg with the juice.

Go!

He's been going in in and then went away with the soft stuff.

You got to love it right there.

Take a really good replay right here.

He had no shot to get that ball.

Great job by Vandenberg.

Really good strategy early on.

Vandenberg pumping it in for out.

Number one Xavier Stovall.

The Bulldogs center fielder stands in the back from that right side of Carson.

Anders does a really good job receiving behind the plate.

That's one thing that you're gonna have to look at this game.

There's been so many different ways and so many different philosophies of catchers these days.

I like to tell my catchers, just keep it still, keep it in the zone.

I'll get the strike.

There it is.

Strike called from Vandenberg.

Nice job from Anders.

Behind the plate.

Still ball.

Xavier Stovall, 338 hitter, two doubles, 23 singles on the season.

But his OPB above 500 out of that seven spot takes a strike there, and he'll have to battle from behind.

Vandenberg gets ahead one and two.

Anytime you can have an on base percentage over 500 out of your seven spot, you know you're doing a lot of things right offensively.

Team calls him.

That's his nickname.

Trying to battle from behind one two goes opposite field, but right to the first baseman Umphrey's.

He gobbles it up.

And just like that, two are gone in the top of the second, you can see what we talked about at the top of the inning right here.

Vandenberg settling in.

He's thrown more strikes this inning, going right after him.

There's a look at head coach Luke Davis, the head bulldog.

He was a former Bulldog, himself a graduate of Saint Joseph.

Seeing him back at his own program.

His assistant, Andrew Beck, was a graduate, talked about him being the MVP in the 2013 state title game and then Coach Brooke, Coach Brewer I love Brant Brooke.

I've known him for about 15 years now, basketball coach, but he likes to get out there on the diamond to hey, he hits a mean fungo.

JB a little bunt attempt here from Owen and Bowden.

Right back to the pitcher though.

No problems for Jacob Vandenberg.

123 go!

The Bulldogs in the second.

We've played one and a half from Conway.

It's still one to nothing.

I have some glad tidings to impart.

Oh, look at that.

I'm still surprised at how good I am.

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Absolutely delicious.

Especially straight out of the oven.

I've never seen anything like this.

I think we have sufficient cause for celebration.

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Well, we're glad you're with us here for this one eight state title game JB Brazil alongside Kevin Bohanon and Kevin Taylor.

After struggling in that top of the first Saint Joseph put a lot of pressure on.

They respond in the second, getting a one, two, three inning and now they got a chance trying to get something going with their offense.

Yeah.

The last of course they're going for their four peat like we know the last three years.

You can really kind of see the second.

And third thing is when Taylor really takes control of a ball game.

So leading things off against Trevor Jackson will be the righty Caleb Downs he's the Tiger right fielder.

Hitting 340 on the year is Caleb Downs.

And he takes the curveball inside too far.

Got away from Jackson.

That's the third free pass of the game two via the hit by pitch.

And once again Taylor's got the leadoff hitter aboard.

Yeah, curveball just kind of backed up on Jackson right here.

And he's to get on top of that a little bit more.

Just kind of backed up.

Went right into downs right there.

So that leadoff hitter on once again let's see what they do here.

Kason Anders the catcher for Taylor will stand it now 344 average 19 runs driven in both times in the first inning that Taylor had a runner.

At first they got him in motion.

One time it paid off.

The other was a caught stealing.

Let's see what they like to do here, Jackson did a really good job.

He's gone to a slide step right there.

That changes the momentum up a little bit for the first base runner.

Coach Ballard likely told him look look.

And you can see the runner right there holding up fist.

That's usually the universal sign for don't go.

We'll see that.

That applies right here.

Indeed he is not going to attempt down the left field line.

It's foul a diving attempt from Jacob Rappel, the third baseman.

But now it's no balls.

Two strikes.

Will coach Fowler keep the bunt on?

If it's fouled, that would be a strikeout in the bun attempt.

Or will he let his backstop case and Anders swing away?

You got to think that you got a bunt in the zone.

That's one of the biggest things you tell these guys is look, if it's above your hands, let it go right there.

That was in his eyes.

There you go.

He is squaring the bond.

It gets away from the catcher, though Royal could not corral it.

Bouncing away.

Taylor doesn't have to bunt.

The runner up, the free gift there puts a runner in scoring position and there's nobody out.

This time.

Now Jackson's going to have to battle in a pressure situation case in Anders with a one ball, two strike count curveball.

Nice take down and away Jackson trying to get him to go fishing.

But he wouldn't do it.

Yeah you may see on our broadcast today they do have the pitch clock up there.

It doesn't apply.

There is a pitch clock in high school baseball.

It's really kept on the field.

It's usually not applied during the game.

But you'll see it on our broadcast today.

Right.

That big 20 I know you've called a lot of games here.

So you're used to seeing that.

That's right.

I don't know that I've ever had one expire.

Believe it or not, but it certainly does come into play.

It's just to speed up the game, keep it from the hitter of the pitcher.

Really drawing out in the bat.

Three two pitch to Anders flies it into center and Xavier still ball.

He's got lightning speed.

Gets to that one quickly.

Good range.

And that's the first out of the inning.

It's Taylor getting deep into it.

Bats right here.

That's the third three ball count they've had against Jackson.

That'll drive a pitch count up pretty quick JB.

And that's exactly what you want when you're facing a guy.

We talked about Jackson's numbers.

He's got really good stuff.

Low E.R.A.

Find a way to draw bigger counts and trying to get him out of the game that way might make him belabor a little bit.

Aiden Horsley stands in to 64 average.

He takes the first pitch down and away from ball one 286 average.

Yeah.

Jackson not afraid to go to the first pitch curve.

Curveball right there.

He's done it a couple of times already just changing up his looks.

You want to change up your holds, change up your loads.

Keep those runners honest on the base.

Tigers looking for production now in the bottom part of the lineup a big foul off from Lee and let that travel deep but just couldn't catch up.

Yeah.

And one thing Coach Fowler said these guys have played with each other for about the past eight years, especially that freshman class.

It's got eight on a roster for one day.

That's tremendous.

So these kids have played with each other for about the past 12, 13 years.

The chemistry is high for the Taylor Tigers.

You know we asked him about before the game.

We said, coach, you been here before?

He said, yeah, but not for a lot of these guys, right?

Yeah.

Not for these guys.

Eight in the lineup.

You see Coach Brian Fowler right there.

They've won three straight.

And he's been there for all of them little comebacker.

They're going to try to get the lead runner.

They got him in a run down Caleb Downs hung out to dry.

They'll apply the tag runners trying to move to second base.

And he will dive in safely.

But they do get the out.

They replace what they had.

So for Taylor really no harm, no foul.

It could have been a lot worse.

Yeah.

You give up the out right there.

You got to let that ball go through down and down the nose that he he's been around long enough.

You let that ball go through.

If it's on the right side of second base he should take third.

But like you said they traded it out.

But they didn't have to give up an out.

Right there.

So it goes as A156 pulling out.

And then they threw to the second baseman covering over there.

Runner in scoring position two gone.

It's going to take some clutch hitting from Max Montgomery or Jacob Vandenberg.

If Taylor is going to tie the ballgame here in the second.

You always like to see a first pitch strike after getting it out like that, getting the lead runner on the base pass right there.

And Max Montgomery was the only one that did not play in the state championship game last year.

He's one of those nine freshmen on the roster.

Boy, he's hit 392 as a freshman.

Rolls over this to short though George here's there the throw across it's close bang bang.

But they got him.

And the Bulldogs escape trouble again after two.

It's one nothing.

Bulldogs.

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It's trivia time.

Taylor is playing for their fourth straight championship today.

Who are the only two schools to win four straight titles in state history?

Oh, good.

Yeah.

Good one right there.

I know, I know, I was not a part of either one of these teams.

We only won one straight back in 99.

One straight.

Wow.

Once we played for it in 98 and lost and then won in 99.

Well how about a club there.

Yeah that was that was the first year of the Weekend of Champions actually at home Stadium in Fayetteville in 1999.

I think myself a little here.

I was about to say, you certainly don't look at me.

I'll tell you that I appreciate it.

Top of the third is upon us.

It'll be Caden Hollowell to lead things off for Saint Joseph.

Nine hole hitter, then back to the top of the lineup.

Travis Jackson George here due up.

Trevor Jackson will bat if anybody reaches first pitch.

Hollowell jam shot up the middle.

Shortstop.

Smith got plenty of time and his throw across the diamond is pure.

Pitcher's best friend is a first pitch swinging hitter that you get that they get that quick out on right there.

So one pitch out Tucker Smith able to corral things.

Now it's back to the top of the lineup.

Travis Jackson Jackson put together a really nice at bat to begin the ballgame.

Ended up lining out to center field but came into the weekend or a state championship game, hitting 395 as a freshman in the leadoff spot.

That'll play.

Yeah, for a freshman.

And he really kind of reminds me of Valley View's own roads with his approach, and everything's kind of the same size.

Roach is, course, a junior at Valley View this year.

Jackson and this Saint Joseph Bulldog program, they know what they've got a bright future, a lot of youngsters, a lot of young talent that shines.

Bulldogs hoping that they make a return trip in the next couple of years to pitch the top of the lineup.

Strike called gets away though from Anders to try to.

He tried to jerk that one a little bit at home plate umpire kind of gave him the benefit of it right there.

It was over the black on the outside corner.

He's likely just to tell him, hey, just leave it there.

He'll get it.

That's right.

Yep.

You'll see that from time to time did little to him that work crosses the plate two.

One is popped up down that right field line.

Long run from downs up against the railing.

Just out of reach.

What an effort though from Caleb.

Down.

That's a long foul ball down the.

It's headed down the right field line I know it's brick down there but it is padded right.

Yeah.

You could kind of see.

Yeah.

You kind of see he that was really close to being caught right there man.

What an effort from Caleb Downs.

That would have been Sportscenter top ten worthy play if he corralled that one tip of the cap to the right fielder, an effort that was great.

Nonetheless.

And new life for Travis Jackson.

Trying to battle at the dish to two up stairs from Vandenberg got away a little bit.

I'm wanted to talk to Vandenberg after the game.

That kind of look like a knuckleball.

The way he was gripping there.

You don't see that very often.

Oh, you don't.

Not at this level, that's for sure.

Three balls, two strikes.

Travis Jackson.

Oh for one today.

Lined out to center.

Rips this one down the third baseline gets past the diving third baseman.

But it's foul.

And we'll do it again.

And how about it for Travis Jackson man.

What is it.

He's seen some pitches now.

Hey yeah he likes to say he had an eight pitch at bat the first time up.

He's seen 14 pitches now man that will play.

Second.

Three ball two strikes swing and a miss.

Got him a nice pitch from Vandenberg.

His second strikeout of the day.

And two are gone.

Really good to see him right there.

Right at the knees.

It's got a little horizontal run to it right there.

You look at it just right there playing it outside right at the knees.

They won't do anything with that.

If he if he lives out there and can command that pitch on the outside corner, he'll have a good day.

So now it brings up George here.

The Bulldog shortstop.

He reached on a single back in the top of the first inning.

Ripped one right back through the box.

As a matter of fact, he's a good shortstop, a good hitter or two.

He's got good hands at shortstop too.

That's what you usually one of your most athletic players, especially in lower classifications.

He's going to end up playing shortstop.

You can see he's got a bright future.

561 average on the season.

He's two for two today.

You can't slow down George here.

He's having a great state championship.

Game two for two with a two out single.

Hit it where it's pitch JV the name of the game they talk about 90% of this game is mental.

The other half is physical.

It's a ghetto Yogi Bear club.

But this game is simple.

You throw the ball, you hit the ball and you catch the ball.

That's all you gotta do.

Great job right there.

Stay inside the ball.

Drive it to right field for George.

Here's what's so impressive is the way that he finds barrels.

He hits it solidly just about everywhere.

That's what gives him a great chance to get on.

Yeah.

Good inside.

It's really like kind of Derek Jeter.

Derek Jeter had an inside out approach to where his hands were inside the ball and everything.

That's how you find barrels.

More than not.

And for Saint Joseph, this is the guy this part of the lineup for the Bulldogs that were able to get things rolling.

Trevor Jackson doubled down the right field line his first time up, and he'll take a strike on the inner portion to begin the at bat.

It was Owen Coney, the man on deck that had the sacrifice fly to left.

And it was not your stereotypical sacrifice was not.

It was a line drive diving catch by the left fielder Jasper Jones.

It got the runner home from third to make it a one to nothing ballgame.

But that diving catch likely saved another run from coming across and kept Saint Joseph from having a big inning.

Yeah, we can see in the outfield here is grass.

So I mean it doesn't run as well as it does on the turf, but it still it can skip off out there.

It can get away.

Jackson rolls over this.

The left side could be problematic.

Costly.

A long throw to first and they got him.

What a play from Maynard.

Had to have it quickly.

He throws it out to end the inning.

Bulldogs get a run with a single but they're not able to cash in.

It's still one to nothing.

Bulldogs after two and a half.

No good.

Absolutely.

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Welcome back to Conway.

Our trivia question.

Taylor's playing for their fourth straight state championship today.

Who are the only two schools to win four straight in state history?

Answer that question, JB.

The Pine Bluff Zs.

The zebras won it from 83 to 1986, and Fayetteville from 2006 to 2000 and 2 to 2 of the most respected coaches in baseball history and Arkansas coach Billy Bock for the zebras in the 80s, and coach Vance Arnold for the Purple Dogs, who are making their first state championship appearance since 2014.

They'll be Saturday night in primetime.

Boy, you got some good knowledge there, Kay Ball.

Also for Taylor, this will be their ninth state title.

If they win it, that'll put them in second most among all schools in the state.

As we take a look at our umpiring crew today Jeff Farmer behind the dish Allen Stafford over at first base.

And Bobby Tillery over at third base again their first state championship games even for these umpires.

Here's a look at Allen Stafford.

They've done a great job thus far.

They have.

There's a line drive into right field.

Base hit for Taylor their first of the ball.

It comes from their nine hole hitter Jacob Vandenberg trying to help himself out.

That's right.

And on cue Coach Fowler said he's one of the hottest nine hole hitters in the country right now.

Vandenberg helping himself out right there with a nice little slap single to right field.

Vandenberg, a 323 hitter.

That nine spot and he can fly.

Yep.

We have a courtesy runner.

As soon as we can get a picture over there, we'll identify that young man.

Looks like number five.

Yeah, that's Carson Franks for Taylor.

The freshman on the base pads.

Little courtesy runner for the pitcher.

And for the third straight inning.

Now Taylor's got the leader in front of the board.

Yeah, that's exactly what I was about to say.

You get those leadoff runners on, the dam has to break at some point.

And just, just to remind everybody, in high school baseball, you can run for the pitcher and the catcher having a courtesy runner.

So top of the lineup now Jasper Jones bunts the curveball.

Fouled down the third base line trying to move that runner into scoring position.

Little small ball for Taylor trying to capitalize.

Anytime you get three lead off hitters aboard you think your chances are good at least get one of those across.

That's exactly right.

We talked about, you know, the dam breaking at some point.

You keep doing it, keep doing it, keep doing it.

Break through at some point.

And Coach Fowler telling his kids, look, bunt strikes, they're bunting.

They're bunting balls that are coming in and they're having to go up for any anytime you have to lift your bat, there's a good chance that ball is going to pop up like we saw earlier.

Repo just missed that diving catch earlier in the second inning.

You only want to bunt those in the strike zone.

Exactly.

Really nothing above the letters at all that time pulls the bat back and it's outside of the zone.

Good take from Jasper Jones.

One ball, one strike.

The ball got away, but not far enough.

Not far enough to move him.

Well, the Taylor Tiger softball teams in attendance today.

There's a couple of shots.

You'll see them in the back of the screen.

Number eight.

That's amazing.

That crazy eight and eight in a row.

Unbelievable.

Eight in a row I don't care who you are.

That's impressive.

That is something else.

One ball, one strike to Jasper Jones.

Still trying to bunt that runner up this time.

They appear to be taking off the bunt side takes that ball outside.

So a hitter's count for Jasper Jones.

There's the softball team.

Our first state champions this weekend.

As a matter of fact that's exactly right.

Last year we last two years we've had 10 a.m. baseball games.

So softball got the early one this year.

Oh boy.

Up and in from Trevor Jackson.

It hit him.

Jasper Jones wears it.

Two aboard now for Taylor.

And they got something brewing.

Yeah.

First two runners of the base.

And let's see how Jackson responds right here.

He's done a really good job so far.

Working out of trouble.

Once again this is third hit batter this game.

And Jones did a great job as a leadoff hitter.

Look you can you don't have to hold the arm out there.

But you can roll into it.

When I talk about rolling he just rolled the back right there.

He left the elbow out there.

You don't have to get out of the way of it.

But he did a really good job.

That's what a leadoff hitter does.

George here at shortstop has had a great game.

But but Trevor Jackson 45 and two thirds innings pitched on the season.

And in that time he's only hit two batters all season.

That's three today.

And boy you think the jitters might play a factor.

Coach Davis going to come out and have a conversation with his junior pitcher.

Taylor's got their best chance of the ballgame.

Yeah.

And Coach Davis go out there.

And there's two things that could contribute to the lack of command.

Or you know he's only hit two this year.

Look it's a state championship game.

So the nerves are there.

Plus you're pitching off of turf right.

They still have a dirt man.

If there's a turf that Curtis Walker they play on dirt.

Yeah.

Yep.

So you're having a pitch off a little different surface out there.

So it's a little different.

But the conversation with Coach Davis he'll talk a little bit longer.

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Conversation on the mound is done between Coach Davis and Trevor Jackson.

High pressure situation now for the right hander.

Let's see how he responds.

And it doesn't get easier.

Wade Barton due up.

He was hit by a pitch his first time up.

The double play is in order for Jackson and the Bulldogs, and the first pitch is smoked fair over.

The third baseman's headed into the left field corner.

Taylor's going to tie it.

They're going to try to take the lead.

The second run comes home.

2 to 1.

Tigers on a two run double from Wade Barton.

Wade Barton center fielder had a great game last year in the state championship game.

First pitch swinging after a mound visit you, coach Taylor said.

Be aggressive right here, Jackson.

And live dangerously all game up in the zone.

Rips it down the left field line.

Great attempt right there by rip.

Hold a little out of his reach right there.

Great job by Jasper Jones to get all the way home from first base as well man.

No kidding.

That's some good speed.

Well placed from Wade Barton.

He went inside swung early and he jumped all over it.

Now it's the three hole hitter Tucker Smith standing in two hits in this inning for Taylor.

Their first two of the ballgame a hit by pitch sandwiched in between.

They're still not done.

Smith and Umphrey's are due up.

Downs would follow.

Still nobody out.

Hey it's Tucker Smith fouls that one up.

Right side, first base and a fan trying to come over and make a catch.

But he lets that one hit the hit the turf harmlessly.

Yeah we got the kid zone out there.

Maybe a little bad go a little picnic action going on right today.

You big Bango guy.

Sometimes it just depends on the day of the wind blowing left or right.

Well, I bet the hardcore people would call it cornhole.

Right?

You don't want to be for calling them cornhole championships.

It just depends on what state you're in.

Back to action, Taylor.

Tigers have taken the lead 2 to 1 on the two run double from Wade Barton.

He's at second base.

Tucker Smith trying to battle.

But man we've had a good crowd on hand in the first baseball state championship of the weekend.

Good shade over there as well Conway.

Saint Joe's is the the only Central Arkansas team.

You know Harding Academy in Searcy.

But central Arkansas left out of the state championship this year.

Saint Joe's is it.

Tucker Smith pops that one up into left field.

On comes Hollowell.

They call him canine.

He makes the snag out there in left field.

I'll tell you about that nickname a little bit later in the broadcast, but two that's the first down.

Excuse me of the inning.

Here's Jesse Humphries.

He rolled over to second base, his first time up with a runner in scoring position.

And boy, when you roll the dice with Humphries, he doesn't let that happen too often without driving in a run.

Yeah, and you got to think Humphries had to be kicking himself because it wasn't a good pitch to hit.

It was a great pitch by Jackson down and into the lefty.

But now you got to think Humphries is looking for his pitch right here.

Mister Trevor Jackson.

Do you nibble a little bit trying to come over Umphrey's pops that one up down the third base line.

Foul ground.

Long run for rappel, but it lands out of the field of play, so it's a long strike that Jackson's going right after him.

One of the things that I've noticed is when Jackson has missed today, it's on his follow-through.

He's really kind of cutting himself off with his glove side, and he's not getting out front getting an extension.

That's when he's kind of jerking the ball over to the left handed batter's box right there.

So if he can stay in a fluid motion, he's going to throw strikes.

And I like to call here to attack and try to get him for just two.

It's a big park.

Oh Warren fouled back.

And now it's oh and two.

Humphries leading the team by quite a large margin.

And runs driven in 47.

As we mentioned the broadcast player to watch rolled over to second base his first time up.

He'll have to battle from behind.

Oh two Trevor Jackson has worked into a little bit of trouble in.

The Tigers, have cashed in their first lead of the contest.

Umphrey's trying to battle Jackson, trying to get in that one sails up and away, trying to go off speed.

But it got away from him.

Yeah, really kind of a show me pitch right there just to kind of keep Umphrey's guessing up there.

He's going fastball, fastball.

Just show that curveball.

Now you can kind of come back.

Now you got umpires guessing up there.

What may be coming Caleb Downs in the on deck circle waits.

Same pitch, almost same result.

Up and away.

Jackson trying to snap it off.

It stays high.

Two and two.

Yeah that's where we talked about him.

Him missing up or you just not get on top of that curveball like he needs to.

You want to pull down with it.

You want to really feel that snap come off.

A lot of coaches call it a hammer right?

It just really has a lot of drop on it.

Two two fouled away.

And Jackson's got that stuff.

But a little bit more erratic today.

The three hit by pitches is an indication of that.

He had only two coming in to this whole state championship.

Yeah that's exactly right.

And you know a lot of times Taylor they stay in the box.

A lot of times guys will just bail out.

Now they're going to get on base.

And Coach Fowler's done a great job teaching his team.

That Tigers had 97 hit by pitches coming in there.

Now up to 100 with those three today.

Yeah that that's a stat that I would like to look at on a national level and see where they rank.

They've got to be top five in the nation because they've played this their 27th game.

So they're getting at least almost for game 3.8 a game.

It's a lot of bruises on the body.

That is three balls.

Two strikes to Humphries.

He was down oh two.

He's worked it for payoff.

Pitch is smoked deep into right field.

Long wrong from Imboden.

It's over his head.

Unfreeze drives in another an RBI double for the first baseman.

And the Tigers are up 3 to 1.

For his 11th double of the season.

You got to see it right there.

He saw it.

He got his pitch and he drove it to right field like we talked about.

It's a big out field.

317 to the power rallies out there.

It was just going to get it right over the middle of the plate.

He dropped the head of the bat right there.

And it's run for days.

At that point.

They played him to push out there in the outfield a little bit to center fielder Soto.

Ball was more the left center field gap.

There was a wide range there in the right center field.

Ali and Humphreys made him pay.

Caleb Downs now standing and Tigers still not done.

Runner in scoring position with one out and he takes the first pitch from Trevor Jackson up and in a lot better breaking ball right there from Jackson.

Just a little up in the zone right there.

He needs to settle in right here.

Jackson last pitched against Bearden on Friday in the quarterfinals, a 12 nothing win.

He went five innings of one hit baseball, had seven strikeouts.

Yeah, Saint Joe's had a not easy.

But they had a good path to the finals.

Everything worked out for them.

They faced Hillcrest in the semifinals, beat them 3 to 2.

Hillcrest had beaten Mountain Home.

But Saint Joe's had a really good path to the championship game.

And in that semi game, it was the sophomore George here that threw lights out, went seven innings for the Bulldogs, three hits, two earned runs at nine strikeouts.

He's got a bright future.

Absolutely.

Two balls one strike to Caleb Downs.

He takes it outside.

It's the third ball now to downs with Kason Anders looming in the on deck circle.

Tigers have already put up a three spot in the inning, all thanks to a couple of doubles.

A two run two bagger from Wade Barton and an RBI double from Umphrey's.

That one popped up right side.

Little bit of an adventure for the second baseman, Travis Jackson, but he corrals it.

And now there are two outs for Trevor Jackson with Kason Anders stepping in.

It's that time of the day about 2:00 right now.

So that sun on the field out there, it's tough on those infield fly balls right there.

You can see it.

The second baseman just had a little bit of a trouble.

But Tony did a great job of pulling it in right there.

Excuse me Jackson.

Well, if you think about it for Taylor, any of these guys that are seniors in the lineup, that means it's freshmen.

This they've already won three state titles.

Got a chance to win all four years of their high school careers.

They get they get a pinky ring with this one.

You don't have the ability like you did in college to come back for, you know, a grad year or two years.

So no five year there.

Will McIntyre coming back for six.

That's right.

He saw Cole Ramage back in the day two.

No balls at a strike to Kason Anders the seventh man to bat in the inning for Taylor.

The first three reached in that third hitter Wade Barton was the big blow a two run double down the left field line.

Jesse Humphreys chasing home another in the inning.

Two batters later, it's three one, two going with the one ball, one strike count to the Tigers catcher.

One one skied it into left center field.

Who wants it snowballs there.

Hollowell wells there.

But it'll be the center fielder, Xavier Stovall, who makes the catch.

Tigers, though with a three spot, they take their first lead of the day here.

This month on Arkansas PBS.

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Hit play shortstop, pitcher, and he even gets behind the plate at catcher.

He's a junior with a three point a grade point average.

He plans to study physical and civil engineering in college.

Hit hit 615 this year for the Eagles.

Brooks hit is our class one.

A Arkansas PBS student all star and Brooks Hemp can't hit the baseball.

You said a 615 batting average, 615 and 56 hits on the seasons.

That is unreal.

Eight.

They fell in the semifinals to Taylor, 8 to 6.

I think there's an argument I mean Saint Joseph in this conversation as well, though.

Any of those three teams had a really legit chance of making it here.

Yeah, them those three in Mount Ida were they were the top four in our class and in our class won a super seven rankings the entire year.

Of course Taylor's been there, you know, from start to finish.

West Side girls ferry started out number two.

Saint Joe's number six.

But got up to that three four spot.

You know throughout the season with the solid they won conference.

They won district.

They did what they needed to do.

Of course with a 24 and four record.

You expect that.

How about the shocker there in the regionals desert knocking off Southside.

Good team.

Not sure where they would have landed but that was a huge upset.

Yeah you had to in that region because Palestine well Palestine it was in two a they lost a Baptist prep.

So, yeah, you had quite a few four over ones in one day and a this year.

Owen Coney hitting the ball well smokes it up the middle.

But a diving catch from Tucker Smith at short.

And he takes a hit away from the leadoff hitter.

So what you want to see out of your shortstop right there.

Another tough play right there.

Good bat to ball skills.

Just a really tremendous play right there by our man Tucker Smith at shortstop.

Man tip of the cat.

The defense for Taylor has been on display.

Here's a really good look at it.

Coney drove in the only run of the day for Saint Joseph.

But man a web gem from Tucker Smith.

It was Patrick Royal, the Bulldogs catcher, drew up.

He grounded out to third base his first time up.

Back in the first inning.

Ever since the first, Vandenberg really settled in a good bit.

Yeah, he went one, two, three.

In the second inning, Danny gave up a single to here.

Of course, that's nothing wrong with that to be expected.

It was 2 to 2 out single to here.

Now no damage done in that one.

So yeah Humphreys is really settled in.

Patrick.

Excuse me.

Vandenberg.

Yeah.

Vandenberg is a guy that you know, his numbers don't just jump off the page.

Certainly, you know, a little above a two E.R.A.

That's not bad, but he gets the job done.

Kind of a contact guy.

Has enough to get some strikeouts, does whatever the coach asks.

Two balls, two strikes to Patrick Royal.

Jake grappled the Bulldogs third baseman waits in the on deck circle.

Vandenberg two two pitch, chopped foul.

Left side.

We'll do it again.

Well, the Bulldogs jumped out early.

They're the visiting team in today's one.

A state title game scored a run on a sac fly from Owen Coney.

That score held until about a half inning ago.

A three run third inning for Taylor, Wade Barton, a two run double, Jesse Humphreys an RBI double.

And that gave Taylor the lead.

It's going to be a payoff pitch to Patrick Royal Vandenberg trying to win the battle.

He's already had two strikeouts today.

It's smoked foul from Royal.

We'll do it again with another three ball two strike count.

Royal getting a little jumpy in that box of the Vinterberg's done a really good job with changing speeds.

It's about that.

Look like his little change up right there and roll.

Just getting around it a little bit.

And Vandenberg, as we've mentioned, really settled in after that first inning.

Pressure was applied.

Saint Joseph talked about how that was important to try to jump out early.

Taylor can score runs in bunches.

They showed three there in the bottom of the third.

Another payoff pitch to Patrick Royal popped him up into the outfield.

Tucker Smith goes, waves the arms, calls everybody off.

And just like that, two are gone.

It'll be all up to Jake Rapp.

If the Bulldogs are going to do anything in the fourth, and Tucker Smith just taking over this game, that what do you do?

A shortstop?

Well there is a look at coach Andrew Beck former teammate of mine in the American Legion ranks years ago 2013.

He was the state MVP, a part of the title team that made it the only title that they've ever won.

He was the MVP of the tournament and great guy, but a great player as well.

Yeah, 2012 to 2014.

Saint Joe's one of the best teams in class one a they you know they got had a really good team in 14.

Just made the state tournament.

Just came up a little short after that 13 state championship coach Beck went on to play at the University of the Ozarks there in Clarksville.

And, he's a really good basketball player as well.

One of the best athletes, the Beck brothers.

There's way the older brother Andrew and then David, all instrumental in Saint Joseph athletics.

That ball smoke to right from rappel, but it hangs up for Caleb Downs.

Vandenberg gets three contact outs, but the Bulldogs go in order in the fourth.

This month in passport on the PBS app, meet the groundbreaking author Amy Tan.

I am a writer and a tether to the past.

I've been sort of graphing Asian-Americans in New York City for 50 years.

Who do you see Corky Lee taking pictures on?

Quite a your home in Korea.

And we don't quite feel home here in America.

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Well, there's a look at some scaffolding that's provided in kind.

Looky there.

The product on the field, outside the field of play as well.

Our camera, our production crew, camera guys.

They do a great job.

Arkansas PBS.

They've always done a third year for me to do this.

I know you've been doing it as well.

It's always fun to come up here and see a lot of the people that we get to spend this time of the year with.

It's always kind of like a reunion.

That's right.

And a top notch reunion.

Absolutely.

All the way around.

Well, for Taylor, they're up 3 to 1.

Pitching from Vandenberg has been good.

It'll be seven, eight and nine.

Do up for the Tigers.

Possibly Montgomery and Vandenberg against Trevor Jackson in the first pitch.

Is fouled right back into the screen for strike one.

Yeah.

Usually you think with seven, eight, nine come up you're going to be in good shape.

But as they got on in the second inning and then Max Montgomery first pitch lined out to shortstop.

And then of course Vandenberg stays hot.

So it's a really important right here to Jackson.

Gets a quick out.

I think you're right.

Just being able to tack early and try to get ahead of the count.

But for Jackson, part of his problem has not been getting ahead.

It's been able to finish.

He'll get ahead 0212, but then he'll fall behind and walks come.

And then his pitching starts laboring a little bit.

Yeah, maybe.

And it's probably being too fine of a pitcher at that point.

Getting around the zone.

Just throw it over the plate.

Let your defense work.

You got a really good defense behind you.

Let them play.

He misses again that time.

Not as close to balls and two strikes.

Because here's the thing with Taylor.

And we've seen this not only this year but in years past with Coach Fowler's teams.

They don't really help you out of time.

They take a lot of pitches and they only swing at what seems to be strikes almost always.

Yeah.

And when they get up, they like to put that foot down and they like to put the hammer down to two twos chopped out in front of the dish.

Could be trouble.

Royal going to throw to first.

Not in time.

A little swinging bunt for Aiden Huxley and Taylor for the fourth straight inning.

They've got the leadoff runner aboard.

Yep.

Swinging bunt on the best way.

He goes down as a single in the scorebook.

Take a look at it here in just a second.

Like to see that that was really kind of the first bang bang we had at first base right there.

And that's that's in no man's land.

The catcher did a really good job of getting out.

Really good call right there by Stafford at first base.

They'll swing and bunt a fourth straight man.

And that's what you like to see for for forward leadoff hitters.

And now there's a bunt right back to the pitcher.

Got a chance to get the lead runner Jackson thought about it.

Probably should have.

Instead he gets the sugar out.

At first, Max Montgomery with the sacrifice hit moves the runner aboard and there's one gone in the bottom of the fourth.

Yeah Trevor Jackson looked and I think he really kind of surprised.

But he didn't commit to it.

That's one of those things where you talk about pitching fielding practice.

We'll talk about that all weekend.

Pitchers come off and know where they need to go with the base ball.

And I bet if he were thrown to second base right there, he likely could have got hardly.

And then sometimes to the moment you don't make up and you're in between, that's when errors tend to happen.

Swing to the left side base hit for Vandenberg.

They're going to wave home hustling the throw to the plate cut is cut off.

It's 4 to 1 RBI single.

Small ball paying off for Coach Fowler and the Tigers.

Vandenberg, now two for two in the game, has an RBI right there.

Just a great job hitting in front of the runner but knowing where the shortstop was.

So in that situation, Saint Joe's needs to have the second baseman covering the runner at second right there to keep the six hole from being open, because that's a routine ground ball to the shortstop.

If he's playing his position, that's exactly right.

So maybe make a change defensively in your lineup, in your alignment.

Right.

There is one of those small in-game things that Taylor likes to take advantage of.

Now it's back to the top of the lineup.

Jasper Jones oh for oh, officially runners trying to swipe second base.

The throw down and they got him Patrick Royal his second holes of the game.

Another caught stealing and the base paths are empty with two away.

Yeah it looks like Carson Fowler had a late jump right there.

I don't know what it was, but Roy has done a good job.

Royal has done a good job behind the plate of coming up out of his crouch, because he knows those guys are running well.

It's hard to believe that Royal wasn't the everyday catcher, but he is certainly improved settled into that position.

You know Saint Joseph's though.

They've been knocked out by Taylor twice the last couple of years.

In the semis.

They have revenge on their mind.

This one means a lot to both programs.

But you got to manager for the Bulldogs.

They're sick of getting snake bit against Taylor.

Yeah you know Saint Joe's the last time they made the state championship game was 2017.

They had finished third in their conference, third in their district and third in the regional.

Came through.

I think David Beck was one of the starting pitchers for that, for that team.

So, yeah, making it back first time in eight years.

Oh, I think Taylor's won all eight since.

I'm joking, but they've won three since then.

So yeah, it seems like it at 27.

Team match up a five nothing loss to Spring Hill.

The 1 in 2013.

They knocked off Dirks 13 to 3.

Yeah Spring Hill made it.

They won it in 2017.

And I believe in 2018 they lost to Parker Chapel ten to nothing.

In fact I did that game at Bomb Stadium.

So the Spring Hill really good program.

They made it back this year.

They finished second in that tough 7 to 8 conference South Arkansas Jasper Jones continuing to battle at the plate.

Another full count for the leadoff man.

He is at full count.

And all three.

As you see the fans and the young fans scattered are trying to go get a souvenir.

Yeah, Jones reminds me of Charles Davila and Logan Maxwell, how they just foul off balls that spoil pitches.

He's doing it.

Yeah, right on cue.

He's making it look good on 20 pitches so far.

That's amazing for a leadoff hitter.

Only his third at bat.

That's a really good look at Jackson peering in and Jones at the dish.

Really good leadoff hitter.

Did not expand the zone.

Looks like it was just A22 count.

So now I don't know that going to get everybody here right.

But me and Jones we were both thinking one more.

He wants to keep battling out there.

But he is awarded another walk and he's reached safely all three times, two walks and a hit by a pitch that's pretty good.

That's exactly right.

When you're when your leadoff guy's got a 1000 on base percentage, that's really good for the rest of the lineup.

And you see the pitch right there.

It's a little up and a little out, especially with, you know, the strike zone was not really huge on Jasper Jones right there Jackson just missed Wade Barton who had a two run double that gave Taylor the lead.

Stands in first pitch is a called strike.

But if you go back to that approach from Jones I like that.

Even though you know, he took that ball outside thinking it was he really don't know what the count what today it's a ball.

I'm going to keep taking as many as I can.

That's a really good locked in mindset from Jasper Jones, who's got speed over at first enough to get a check on from Trevor Jackson.

And when you have a good, consistent zone behind the plate like we've had today, the the players know and the coaches know, so they know what's going to be ball, what's going to be a strike.

Barton with a no ball one strike count comes in I think it hit the bat.

It hits the bat on the backside through behind him.

And that's a foul ball for strike two.

That's unfortunate.

You can see a replay right here.

Turn.

It just went the wrong spot.

Yeah.

And then the bat catches the mask of Royal.

The catcher Wade Barton tried to make himself big back there in the batter's box right there.

Just got the bat.

Well that's what we tell a tee ball.

Get the bat down.

But yeah it's just tough to do coming at you especially 70 75mph gets there in a hurry.

Oh two from Jackson.

Diving attempt from Royal to stop it.

And he does a really nice job.

A soft block on the pitch that usually skips away and that keeps runner at first.

You hear so many times you'll hear it from the stands.

Be a wall back there.

I always tell my kids, used to be a pillow.

You got to be soft.

You want that ball just to bounce right down in front of you.

Hurt.

Especially situation like that.

Do your best job to be soft at the ball and keep it up in front of you.

One two curve ball chopped to the shortstop.

In comes George here.

Throw to first and they got him to end the frame.

But Taylor adds another.

It's 4 to 1 and getting late.

Headed to the fifth.

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It's the one AA state championship rolling on.

Get in the thick of it.

Here's how things got started.

It was this.

Double down the right field line that put two in scoring position.

The sac fly from corner on a diving catch from Jasper Jones and left.

That got things going one to nothing.

But you flash forward to the third inning Taylor got things rolling a single to begin the inning and then a hit by pitch.

And it was this double.

Wade Barton pipes it into the left field corner two runs came across Kevin that made it 3 to 1.

And then this drive to right field a double from Humphries chased home another.

Yeah.

Umphrey's his 11th double of the season.

Right.

There we go to the fourth inning Taylor puts one more in the board going to the six hole right there.

Tigers are up 4 to 1 going into the top of the fifth.

And Jacob Vandenberg getting better with time.

It seems he is really locked in.

He'll face seven, eight and nine.

Do up in the top of the fifth.

Xavier Stovall to lead things off.

He grounded out to first base his first time up and he gets ahead.

Two balls, no strikes.

And I think for Saint Joseph's, taking pitches instead of being aggressive is probably going to be a little bit more of the M.O.

getting later in the game.

That's exactly right, because Vandenberg hasn't walked anybody right so far, and he's allowed three hits but no free passes.

That's been the case so far as we say that he starts out three and oh yeah three balls no strikes.

First time he's fallen behind 300 today.

Yeah.

He went to a three ball count early in the game especially to Travis Jackson leading off the game.

But since then this is his first one since the first inning there's a strike three and one.

So the fall behind three zero is always tough.

And Xavier Ball will get with A31 count a chance to attack and be aggressive.

If he so chooses.

That one runs up and in.

And boy Campbell you're right we talked about it.

Not a free pass here.

Well there's one right there.

Thank goodness we don't have a no hitter going away with a jinx there to leave it to us.

Yeah I know I know that we don't have the pitch count with us right now.

Our crew has done a really good job.

In the past.

We've had pitch count graphics, so if we got something in there, we can throw it up there.

But the his pitch count is not very high.

I know that he's been efficient 60 pitches today as well.

On cue.

That's right.

60 pitches going into the fifth.

That's good.

He's averaging about 14 an inning right now.

So he'll be able to throw a complete game at that pace.

110 is the limit that these pitchers can throw.

You can start and you can start an at bat at 109.

But you can't start a bat at bat past 110.

And Taylor was in our ear giving us all that information.

She did a great job all day long.

One thing I'm surprised the Bulldogs haven't taken advantage of, Or Vandenberg is slow to the plate.

He's got a little hitch in his delivery.

You can see it right in the after he picks off right here, but he's got a little hitch as he goes to the plate.

Like he's locking in that backside, which is good as a pitcher, but he's not getting to the plate real fast.

So let's see if Saint Joe's takes advantage of that.

Only got nine outs with which to work.

Oh and Imboden Bowden the comebacker his first time up.

They're really taking a look at Stovall over at first base.

He's got good speed out there in center field, and the runner at first base is always a danger to swipe a bag.

Oh no.

Laura Vandenberg takes a deep breath.

There goes stone ball.

The throw is a strike from Vandenberg.

They will not attempt to throw down to second.

So Saint Joseph swipes the bag, and they'll have a runner in scoring position with three chances to drive him in.

Yeah, the first time that Saint Joseph's had a runner in scoring position since that first inning.

So let's see if the bottom of the lineup can flip it back around.

The Bulldogs can make a run this inning.

Imboden trying to battle at the dish, takes out one just upstairs.

Vandenberg trying to get the high strike call.

Just missed on that one at Vandenberg.

What I figured out is he's kind of throwing a little sinker that's got a little arm side run, a little downward action to it.

He's letting it come off that middle finger right there.

So it's got a little downward movement at the end right there.

He just keeps missing up right there.

Not a bad miss trying to get him to to chase a little bit.

And even if Imboden tries to hack it that likely unless he's early, he's not gonna be able to get a good swing on it.

Yeah.

And you've seen a lot of ground balls today, JB.

And that's what you get from a sinker ball type guy, because guys are swinging over the top of just driving it into the ground.

Vandenberg delivers two top to Imboden.

And just like that, back to back free passes from Jacob Vandenberg and Saint Joseph will bring the tying run to the plate.

But first a visit.

Yep.

Perfect time for coach Fowler.

Got their settlers ace down and I think he may be settling him down, but that might be for him.

Yeah, looks like we may have got the signal.

And indeed it will be Vandenberg.

Day is done.

They'll head to Jasper Jones, the left fielder.

They'll hand things over to him and Taylor up for one.

But the Bulldogs, threatening in the fifth.

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So the new pitcher, Jasper Jones for Taylor coming in with A41 ballgame.

He'll have his hands full first and second.

Nobody out for Saint Joseph's.

We welcome you back to Bear Stadium JB Brazil alongside Kevin Bohanon and Cable.

It's a high pressure situation but this is what state championship games are all about.

Yeah Jones coming in.

He's a junior.

He's been here three times already.

Done a really good job in left field so far as your leadoff hitter as well.

Jones is one of them.

Those guys has a high baseball IQ.

It's one thing that Coach Brian Fowler told me about his leadoff hitter and pressure situations.

They can definitely go to him.

He's pitched 11 innings this year.

He's two and out.

And you look at his E.R.A.

A 0.636 earned run average, three hit by pitches, nine strikeouts, five walks.

So he's not going to be a guy that blows you away, but he really limits you on the basepaths.

That's exactly right, fans.

Get your free live action photos from the game at my or pbs.org slash photos.

These are great championship keepsakes for your student athlete.

It'll be the nine hole hitter K-9 Caden Hollowell in game.

I don't know if you know this K-9 was actually a rapper.

Canines is all a rap.

Canine is his name.

Yeah, Casey coach said.

He's, they can kind of drop some B.

He's got it going on and, one of those players that, you love to have on your team a good, you know, energy guy and what do you know, a little rapper on your team as well.

So canine getting set to step in.

Somebody just go check him out.

That's exactly the right stuff.

I wonder if he's got a demo with him.

Any good artist always has a demo with them, right?

We need to ask you back to the game.

Jaden Hollowell coming in a big pressure moment.

First and second.

Nobody out in the first pitch from Jasper Jones is delivered high.

And this is what we're going to see the theme all week right.

Vandenberg did not pitch poorly but the leash is very short.

There's a look at him there at second base.

He's moved over there defensively.

The leash is going to be short all weekend.

Absolutely.

And Taylor's counting outs at this point.

They got nine outs to go.

So how how quick can we get these nine outs without allowing three more runs.

So Vandenberg goes to second base.

We'll see where they put Fowler.

As Jones is on the bump.

He's struggling to find the zone misses with the first three.

And he's flirting with putting the bases loaded.

Nobody out.

Yeah one thing Jones he needs to get downhill.

He's not really following through.

That's why you see everything's been up in the zone so far.

Taking all the way.

Three.

Oh there's a strike to Hollowell Travis Jackson waiting in the on deck circle.

If you're Jasper Jones, you do not want to face Jackson with the bases loaded and nobody out.

He's a guy that takes a lot of pitches.

He's a tough out.

Three one to Hollowell canine.

Interesting.

But yeah fouls it off.

Interesting three one.

That may have been a situation to try to distract the pitcher.

You never know I don't know if Coach Davis had put a bun on right there.

You didn't really see it by the reaction of the runner out there.

But he's like, hey, maybe sneak one in right here.

No new pitcher.

Great.

Great idea.

That's right.

Put the pressure on Jones.

Got to come in here.

Hollowell with a payoff pitch.

Looking to bunt again.

He offered at it and struck him out.

They throw him behind the runner at first and they doubled him off.

Oh, my.

Disaster for Saint Joseph and two are going on that you go from runners on first and second in A30 count.

Now you got a wave at it right there.

So there's your first out on the strike out.

And then you get him at first base.

Oh and Imboden thought he got it down right there.

Tough play right there.

Boy that is really tough.

Coach Davis having a conversation.

There is replay in this state title game.

But not until the seventh inning in the seventh.

Yeah.

And I'll be honest with you happened so quickly I don't know that he had a great angle on it was bang bang over at first.

Yeah.

And Imboden, he had taken off assuming like look he can get it down.

And I know the players know that.

Look we can tell.

No you can't challenge the play guys.

You can look at it right here.

It looks like he may have got in with his right hand right there.

It was just a matter of where the tag was.

On the shoulder by Umphrey's over there at first base.

Our camera guys did a great job of getting the best thing they could right there, but nonetheless, there's two outs.

That's right.

No matter how much you want to talk about that, it's going to be to no avail.

And I think that's one where Imboden again, he's trying to be off, but not too far off.

Tip your cap to Anders, the catcher to realize it.

And gun him down.

Throw behind.

So it's two going now Travis Jackson boy how quickly the inning can change.

And how about that for a pitcher and Jasper Jones two.

You struggle.

You get that out.

And then a gift to get the run around at second first base.

Now there's two going.

You're real comfortable.

Yeah that's exactly right.

We talked about pitcher's best friend.

That was the unorthodox double play right there.

That's right.

Double plays.

Pitchers will take them all day long Jones gets the high strike.

Called to Travis Jackson to even it up at one and one.

Good job by Jones right there.

And even up the count right there.

After falling three and zero behind he's thrown strikes rips that to the third base side.

He tries to touch the bag at third base.

There wasn't a force.

It won't matter.

The throw from lead to end the inning.

Saint Joseph threatened, but a little base running on foot ends the inning.

It's still four one.

Taylor on to the bottom of the fifth.

One.

Two.

Three.

I think a change is happening.

Let the groove take over, which is perfect.

The Age of Discovery is now here.

You know what it is.

Stuff can't get.

I I'm quite overwhelmed.

That's a joy to be in this world.

Bring all the good stuff.

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It would be a great idea.

Absolutely.

We love calling these games.

Just keep coming back year after year.

It's 4 to 1 Taylor, though they have scored four unanswered a three spot in the third one running the force.

Trevor Jackson back out for his fifth inning of work.

And he'll face the heart of the Taylor Tiger lineup.

Tucker Smith, Jesse Umphrey's and Caleb Downs scheduled to do up.

Carson Anders will bat if anyone reaches.

First pitch from Jackson misses.

Down and away.

Smith's oh for two today.

Flew out to left in both plate appearances.

Yeah.

Smith.

Just like every other batter.

He has seen a lot of pitches so far.

You know worked three two count in his first at bat.

Got ahead in the second one.

He's an assistant coaches son.

So you know he knows the game well.

I love those coaches kids.

They're a rare breed.

Let me tell you one of one right.

I am one of one actually.

One of two now.

Two now.

Yeah, well.

Fair enough.

Even more rare.

Yeah.

I got a brother.

Two balls and a strike to Tucker Smith.

Hitter's count against Trevor Jackson, who's labored a little bit over the last couple of innings.

Tries to get the high strike, but that one misses up.

To.

The three balls.

One strike.

That one trip to the shortstop.

Hit a hit right to George here.

His throw across.

It's close, but a nice stretch over at first base from Owen Coney.

And that's the first out of the inning.

And George here doing a great job.

I love his hands his footwork at shortstop.

The only thing I would say come get that ball.

Don't let that ball Wade get back on you because they're not hitting the ball really hard right here.

You can see on the replay right here nice fluid motions at shortstop.

Come up Gunnin it across.

Great stretch by the first baseman over there.

That's what you want to see I63 put out Jackson up to 81 pitches now JB he's starting to get in that what I call the.

Important time of the game to where he can really bear down and see what happens.

For his first pitch hunting flies out to center field.

Stowe ball with good range tracks it down.

Two are gone for Jackson.

That's just what the doctor ordered for Saint Joseph.

That's exactly right.

He's thrown four pitches and get two outs in this inning.

Now it's what he has struggled with so far in this game.

Can he finish the inning off real quick and not let Taylor get any momentum right here?

Caleb Downs is all for one today.

He was hit by a pitch his first time, and that he popped up to the second baseman in his last at bat.

First pitch swinging, and he fouls it back into the netting.

Jackson doing a really good job getting ahead.

He's giving his team a chance to win the look.

Just turn it back over to the offense.

They're doing a really good job.

As you can see right there Jackson up to 83 pitches today 110 Max.

So he's still got a little bit more to go.

21 827 pitches remaining.

Yep.

For Jackson.

And he gets the fastball strike over the outer portion of the plate.

It's one and two.

Yep.

He second the he's been doing a good job of keeping him off balance using his off speed to his advantage.

He's got Anders guessing right here.

Now it's cued off the end of the bat Down's.

So speed.

Nice job from Trevor Jackson.

Pulled the string down to while out in front, but just got enough to stay alive.

Taylor trying to get a little bit of a rally going again.

Jackson trying to keep it there.

Popped up into left.

On comes Hollowell.

He snags it.

One, two three.

Go the Tigers in the fence.

Only two innings remain.

Tigers up three from Conway.

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This is Mike.

You can experience the action all over again next week.

Watch all the championship games on the PBS app at any time at my r pbs.org/watch sports.

Well, it's getting late for Saint Joseph.

They trail 4 to 1 now in the top of the sixth, and this is likely their best chance to do any damage.

George here, who is two for two today, will lead things off.

He's got two of the three hits today for Saint Joseph two, three and four with Jackson to follow.

And then.

Oh, and Coney.

And I'm not saying that you can't the bottom portion of the lineup.

But if you're going to start a rally, this is the one you really want to get it going.

And that's exactly right.

And Saint Joe's had the perfect storm last inning.

Just unfortunate series of events, as they would say.

So yeah.

Jones start off right there.

Curveball just leaking out of the zone.

They're being careful with here.

Right here which I do not blame them one bit.

I don't blame them.

That's right.

There's a strike thrown to here.

One ball, one strike to George here.

The sophomore phenom at short.

He takes the curveball and the upper portion of the zone.

And it's one and two.

Jones got lucky on that one right there.

That one kind of hung up in the zone.

And he's kind of got to be kicking himself.

He just hasn't seen it yet.

That's the problem.

You got a new pitcher in really Kent hadn't seen his breaking ball yet.

One two.

Curveball smokes it through the six hole.

You got to be kidding me George here a three for three game in the title matchup.

He's giving it his all George making a name for himself here and now.

Really good job of hitting that two strike hitting.

That's what you love to see.

No kidding.

Well we got to take a moment at least talk about a player for Saint Joseph.

Price Harmon a senior went down in the postseason early.

He was an instrumental part of this Saint Joseph program.

A senior who coach said they would not be here without him and they want to win it for him.

A senior that went down with injury.

You hate to see that late in the season.

That's exactly right, coach Davis said.

He had a procedure.

Everything went well the other day.

It's it's just tough knowing, you know, a lot of these kids aren't going to play past high school, you know, especially, one eight, two eight classifications.

So it's just tough to see.

But Saint Joseph trying to keep battling back.

Well, I tell you what.

Trevor Jackson, the pitcher, one for two today.

He doubled trying to go same spot this time down the right field line.

It hangs up though Caleb Downs great range.

Tracks it down in the right field corner.

But that one stayed up a little bit too long for that one to be any trouble.

Yeah.

And did a really good job getting the ball in quickly, knowing here is one of the best base runners on the team.

They've done a really good job of shading away there.

Taylor's been throwing outside all day.

They live been living on the outer part of the plate, so they're shading opposite of the hitter.

You can see great positioning right there by Downes.

Now Owen Coney drew up.

He drove in the only run of the game for Saint Joseph.

George here's trying to swipe second base.

He dives safe past the back.

Has to scamper back with the Vandenberg trying to dive and get him.

But a stolen base will move him into scoring position.

And I think it's going to be paramount for Saint Joseph to try to drive him in.

Really good job right there about here to get back to the bag.

And if the if the ball would have been delivered on time on the bag.

But here did a great job.

Good heads up play.

So it's one ball.

No strike to Owen Coney.

That curveball stayed high.

Jones released.

You knew it was going to stay up two zero.

I'll tell you one thing I've noticed about Jones.

He keeps fluttering his glove and, hey, technically maybe not.

Come and sit right there.

Let's see if that comes into play at any point.

You're right.

He continues to move that glove a little bit.

Curveball here.

Chopped up the middle from Coney shortstop Scott Room, though.

Tucker Smith gobbles and throws him out.

Two are gone.

It's going to be all up to Patrick Royal.

If Saint Joseph going to be able to get anything in the sixth.

Yeah.

Royal.

Oh for two today.

First time up he grounded out to third base.

Second time flied out to the shortstop.

So good chance to help himself out right here.

No he's not throwing.

But catchers they're just part of that battery is the pitcher is.

And they want to help themselves out any way they can.

Patrick Royal, the catcher.

Oh for two today grounded out to third and popped up to short the ball.

I think if you're Saint Joseph it's just huge.

If you can get at least one right here.

Yeah.

Cut it in half.

That's all they want to do.

Scratch, get a run across.

That gives them a shot.

In the seventh inning, Jake Rappel awaits in the on deck circle, trying to reach and poke.

It was Royal, but he sliced it foul out of play.

I think the whole town of Taylor showed up for this one, which is not shocking considering they had the softball in the Triple-A does a great job of stacking softball and baseball.

If both teams make it to the state championship game, going back to back, I think that's the smart thing to to try to coordinate, get more fans to the game.

Yeah, Lance Taylor, Steve Roberts, the staff, they've done a great job and of course, a shout outs to Don Rodel, who's retiring at the end of the year, is over.

The officials.

Just a little bit.

Hi.

From Jasper Jones.

Yeah.

Congrats to Brody.

Yeah what a career he's had.

I've known him for 30 plus years.

He was, he was referee in my dad's game when he was coaching back at McClellan in the 90s.

So, great career back, coach pro Dale.

There's a big swing and a miss from Patrick Royal.

They was trying to go big fly with one swing but try to pull one run deficit.

He's trying to get two quick.

That's right.

And it would take a lot here at Bear Stadium.

It's a pitcher's park.

It is even at the collegiate level.

Three two curveball oh my Royal drives it to left field.

Off the end of the bat.

It's dropped by the left fielder.

Oh my.

Bailey Bramlett came in defensively.

The left field the oh.

Give Saint Joseph a run.

It's 4 to 2.

Seems like the baseball will always find a new defender in the game.

And Royal puts a good drive, just like he had previously in the game.

Drives it out to left field.

Bramlett overruns it right there.

Just a tough situation for replacement defender.

So, cut that.

Cut it in half right here.

Now it's 4 to 2.

Anything can happen.

That was huge.

You're right Jake Rappel now standing and takes it up and in.

Now the Bulldogs will have the tying run at the plate.

That's important.

That's exactly right.

Anything can happen.

Rip old good size.

He could run into one right here.

That's our first error of the game.

Believe it or not, a clean game so far.

Played so great.

You're right on that.

Rapids oh for two.

Struck out and flew out to right field his last time up.

Come on Jake takes the two.

Oh pitch just upstairs for Jones.

And boy you see this all the time.

Cable.

Anytime there's an error, it seems like for the pitcher, things start to fail a little bit.

They struggle to find the zone.

Yeah, that's one of the things about baseball.

You never can see too much.

Right there, just every little thing just seems to be falling apart.

Great job right there.

The home plate umpire.

There's a lot of times where A30 pitch, if it's anywhere close, it'll be called a strike.

That hasn't been a strike all day.

It wasn't right there.

So now Saint Joe's has the Go-Ahead run coming up to the plate.

That's right.

And the tying run at first base and extra base hit to tie it.

Coach Fowler's out to the mound.

We've already seen quickly time and time again it looks like that's going to do it for Jasper Jones, our third pitcher of the day for Taylor.

They head to the pen once more, getting late some drama in the sixth from Conway.

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For.

Wade Barton will be the new, called upon by Coach Fowler.

Barton has only thrown eight innings this year, but he does have a 1.75 ERA, ten strikeouts, only one walk and boy tall task.

There are two away in the inning, but there's two aboard for Saint Joseph after the errors allowed things to spiral a little bit and give Bulldogs a little new life.

Yeah.

What you're going to see from Barton right here, he's a strike thrower, as you can see.

Ten strikeouts.

Only one walk in those eight innings on the mound this season only allowed two runs.

That's going to be a little bit more below than what we've seen from the first two pitchers from the Tigers.

At this point, Coach Fowler's guys throw strikes.

We've got four hours to work with.

That's all you got to get.

Just get me for.

This is a big spot to put a sophomore to.

Wade Barton already had a big hit early in the game, a two run double that gave Taylor the lead that they have yet to relinquish.

As we move things around defensively, Jasper Jones heads to center field so Wade Barton was in center.

They just swap places and it's Xavier Stovall will be due up here in the top of the sixth.

One run already across the Go-Ahead run at the plate tying run over at first.

Still ball flashing to bunt.

Pulls it back and takes it just high.

Yeah that was probably just to kind of see what what we're going to get from the pitcher, which you can tell already, you're getting a little bit of more velo than what you seen out of Jones and Vandenberg so far.

You'll see that a lot where guys in two out situations.

So that bond doesn't really mean that they are well pickoff move behind a second.

Wow nice job from Tucker Smith to scoop that off the bounce.

And that goes into center field.

Could move runner up.

Yeah he could move both runners up in a scoring position.

That's what you definitely don't want.

The thing right here.

Look you got two outs.

Go get the hitter.

Getting that.

We don't need to let the let us thing and going any further.

It's the ATO go getting our seven ho.

Excuse me.

Stovall taking till he gets his strike.

There is one there.

One and one.

Now the count.

The fastball found the zone again.

Soto ball trying to battle.

He was one for three in this semi win against Hillcrest.

Trying to come up big here in this state title game one one fouled back over the netting.

These are some big moments for these youngsters.

Yeah.

And you can tell Barton the big moment does not faze him right now.

And he's going to be one that's just by watching him right now.

He looked good in the field.

He's looked good at the plate.

He could be one of their stars on the mound in the next couple of years.

Wade Barton trying to shut the door.

The one ball two strike fastball misses up and in good take from Stovall.

And it's two and two.

This is a big part of this ballgame.

Barton's trying to limit the damage as Stovall chokes up on the bat a little bit.

Runners at first and second.

Two two from Wade Barton.

Swing and a foul off to the right side.

Out of play a challenge pitch and snowball fights it off.

Yeah.

Really good pitchers pitch right there.

You can see Stovall choking up on the bat.

Good two strike approach.

If it's if it's a pitcher's pitch, spoil it, spit on it and then live to fight another pitch.

Xavier Stovall he's a ballplayer fighting at the plate in that seven hole two two up and in Barton runs the count for this is big because now Saint Joseph's will get a head start.

Yep.

With each runner at first and second.

It's always important.

Catcher come out communicate out to the middle in to the infield.

Look we're going across right here.

They can't do anything with the runner at second base.

So getting your position Tucker Smith will fly out of the camera here in just a second.

Three balls, two strikes, two outs.

Top of the sixth.

The three two high stole.

Stovall draws a walk.

Great at bat from the Bulldogs center fielder.

And now Owen Imboden will bat with a bases juiced in the tying run in scoring position.

Couldn't ask for anything.

Saint Joe's has done a really good job the last two innings.

Now can they get one across?

That's the key thing right here for the for the Bulldogs.

Get him across with the eight hole hitter up and all win in Bowden.

If you remember got picked off two innings ago in a big situation.

Got a chance for some redemption right here.

Baseball is poetic as Barton delivers the first pitch high to Owen and Bowden says he's all for one today.

Grounded out to the pitcher his first time up.

Then he walked his last time.

Wade Barton no place to put.

The Bulldog right fielder.

There's a strike delayed call by the home plate umpire.

But the right call.

Yeah.

Read.

Pause.

React.

That's what he's doing back there to make sure that I see what I saw.

Now I'm going to call it.

There you go.

You don't want to call it too quick.

So that in Arkansas Tennessee series this past weekend, that's when fans get a little rowdy.

Right.

And coaches on one strike at the knees in Bowden taking again.

Barton realizing it.

One ball, two strikes.

Top of the sixth.

Two outs.

One of the biggest at bats in Owen in Bowden's life.

Barton the sophomore a huge moment as well.

One two swing and a miss.

Wade Barton shuts the door with the bases juiced and Taylor able to score out of trouble for a two.

As we head to the bottom of the sixth.

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Three.

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More information at Eminem Productions.

Dot net.

They also do a great job.

Absolutely.

Matt, the whole crew that these guys have done a great job.

High school sports has had a need.

You see it right there Eminem Productions dot net.

They've done a great job.

High school sports has needed this.

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There's a new pitcher on the bump for Saint Joseph.

It's the shortstop George here, who, by the way, has quite literally kept his team in the game with three for three outing.

He'll come in in the bottom of the sixth against Taylor and he will face six, seven and eight.

Kason Anders to begin.

And he starts him with a strike.

If you look at the numbers of George here this year, it's crazy.

36 innings pitched, 53 strikeouts.

Near the top of the team.

He does have a 2.5 ERA but he's got good numbers as a sophomore.

Yeah he does good athletic build.

He's going to throw the ball hard.

One one smoked fouled down the right field line.

But out of play by plenty.

And JB we are three outs away from high school baseball in Arkansas getting the chance for replay.

First in state, first in the nation.

That replay is being used in high school baseball.

Now this.

That's right.

This state Arkansas.

They're kind of the tester state.

The first one to kind of try this out.

And so walk us through how that'll work out.

Let's wait till this event perhaps finishes.

One ball two strikes to Kason Anders flied out to center field both times for balls.

Fouled away again.

So we'll keep battling at the plate.

But there are some stipulations to this review that will get.

And cable will tell us all about it here shortly.

George here working from the wind up one two the case and Anders good velo but misses upstairs right side.

Back to work.

Quickly.

Curveball popped up.

Who wants it?

Second baseman calls everybody else.

The Travis Jackson makes the catch for out number one.

So tell us about the video review.

So it only occurs in the last inning.

So right now we're going into the seventh inning each coach will have a replay challenge.

Now the plays that can be challenged reviewed are force tag play safe or out calls.

Those are the only ones that can happen and are available in the final.

And then each coach will have a challenge in extra innings if they occur.

And like we said, they're limited to safe and out on the base pads.

Pardon me?

On the defensive line.

That was Xavier Stovall who made that catch at second.

He's moved over to the second base position.

Owen Conies out in center field.

Trevor Jackson's over at first base.

Travis Jackson moving to shortstop.

Yeah, and our replay official for all six baseball state championship games will talk about that after the pitch.

Right here.

Strike over the outside corner right here.

Good friend, Justin Yates.

Justin is a 16.

He's had 16 state championship games on the field.

He's had the five AA state championship game last year.

He's been a crew chief.

Done a great job for sports in Arkansas.

He's taking over the, dean of students position at Beebe High School next year.

So congratulations on that move, Justin.

First, a replay official for high school baseball in the state.

We got something on the field right here.

We got a stoppage of play.

One of our camera.

Help down the left field line there tending to her.

Boy, we hope everything is okay.

The game has been stopped momentarily.

Well, they make sure that she's okay.

With.

I'll tell you what.

We'll step aside while they tend to that.

Bottom of the sixth.

4 to 2.

Taylor.

They're up by two.

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Well, it's 4 to 2.

Taylor's on top by two, and we have received word.

Looks like she's okay.

Yeah.

Down the left field line.

So that's good.

We'll get to back back to action here soon.

But cable, this game started with Saint Joseph's applying pressure.

They got the one run that sacrifice diving catch.

We talked about it.

How big that could be.

That first inning could have been more than one run for Saint Joseph, but the defense for Taylor's loomed big.

Yeah, and it's nothing.

We haven't seen the pass from Taylor before.

The fundamentals are what Coach Fowler teaches and Saint Joe's.

They've had two big innings in this.

The fifth and sixth where they've had base runners.

Had the bases loaded last inning with two outs.

Just haven't gotten the critical hit in the right situations.

We've seen that.

And that's baseball guys.

So had a tough call at first base on that back picked in Boston in the fifth inning.

That's where they had the first two runners on.

Jones had just come into the game was the countless three zero.

And then you get a strikeout and then you got the double play.

So, George here, right there.

George here had been in a groove to where he was throwing strikes.

Doing a great job.

And we'll see what happens when we come back from the break right here.

I have some glad tidings to impart.

Oh, look at that.

I'm still surprised at how good I am.

Jane Austen was my sister.

I didn't think I would ever study medicine, but here I am.

Absolutely delicious.

Especially straight out of the oven.

I've never seen anything like this.

I think we have sufficient cause for celebration.

Well, back to action.

With a one ball, two strike count to Aiden Horsley, with one going in the bottom of the sixth.

George, here got Kason Anders to pop out to second to begin the inning.

One two.

Curveball.

That's a dandy.

Ring him up.

The bender for strike three and two are gone.

First strike out.

We've had look in today.

That's.

Get to the bottom of the sixth inning.

Haven't seen it.

Looked like really good pitch.

It looked like more kind of looked like a slider right there from here.

We haven't seen that any today.

And with Velo you get a little bit more slider out there.

So with two gone, Max Montgomery will stand in.

If you look ahead to the top of the seventh.

Saint Joseph's going to need at least two.

It'll be nine one and two.

Do up Caden Hollowell, Travis Jackson George here Trevor Jackson bats.

If anyone reaches.

Montgomery.

The only Taylor Tiger in the lineup.

The freshman that wasn't a part of last year's state championship team.

That's crazy in it.

Yeah.

Here.

Filling up the zone.

Love to see it.

Give your team a chance in the top of the seventh.

Two one from George here.

Fastball at the knees.

Strike two.

Really good pitch and pitch right there.

On the knees on the black.

Not much Montgomery could do with that.

Just tip your hat.

Sometimes you just got to tip your hat.

The pitcher makes a good pitch.

Two balls, two strikes.

Fastball ripped.

Foul from Montgomery Taylor trying to add a little insurance in the inning, but they're three outs away from four consecutive state titles.

That is quite a feat.

If they can pull it off, it is.

I love how the Taylor hitters expand their strike zone.

All of them do it the same way.

It's great to see that wood stays high from George here.

The count will now be four with Jacob Vandenberg waiting in the on deck circle, and that one kind of slipped out of the hand.

From here, you can tell he's little rosin bag out there.

Payoff pitch.

That one darted low.

So a free pass to Max Montgomery.

And with two gone, Jacob Vandenberg, who's two for two today with pressure applied, they might could drive it around if they try to steal base.

Yeah.

We'll see how here handles the runners.

He's pretty quick to the plate, though.

I don't think he'll have any issues.

Boy, if you look back, Saint Joe, they're not able to win this game.

Six free passes today.

Likely going to be the bugaboo Comebacker to George here.

He flips to first.

They get Vandenberg for the first time.

But Taylor there's three outs away from their fourth consecutive state title.

Right back from Conway.

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Well, thanks for tuning into the one eight state title game JB Brazil alongside Kevin Bohan, and glad you've been here with us.

They're going to go to The closer Taylor, new pitcher to finish out the ball game.

It'll be Tucker Smith who's been shortstop all game long.

He comes into trying to nail down the final three outs.

Smith on the year thrown 12 innings.

He's got a 4.08 E.R.A.

15 strikeouts ten walks.

And they'll lead on the veteran the junior shortstop to try to close it out.

Yeah.

You got to think that Coach Fowler is going to have probably a short leash right here.

His strikeout to walk ratio is 14 to 10.

That's not the best.

But you know situation like this you go to somebody that's been in a big game situation.

Your shortstop is a he's the captain of the infield knows how to run things out there.

I think his hair's blue to blue hair.

Did we see it?

Blue hair there in the back.

That's crazy.

Taylor fans on their feet.

Saint Joe's fans on their feet should get a heck of a finish here in the one AA state championship game.

It has been a dandy.

Caden Hollowell will be the leadoff hitter.

Saint Joe they have dealt with injury throughout the year.

Smaller number.

I think they only got 11 guys.

So it's yeah next man up been mentality has been that all year one oh from Tucker Smith.

Long delivery misses high two.

And oh the crowd's getting into it.

Can you call that the student section.

Yep.

That's probably three more than their graduating class at Saint Joe's I love seeing the students out there.

Overpower again.

Smith misses upstairs.

Saint Joseph needs one base runner to bring the tying run to the plate, and they'll at the top of the lineup do.

Up next.

The right guys are do in order.

Yeah.

One thing we've seen from Smith so far in his warmups in the first three pitches, everything's been up.

So make small adjustments right here to get in the zone trying to deliver.

Can't do it.

Missed upstairs four pitch walk to Caden Hollowell the nine hole hitter and the top of the lineup Travis Jackson about to stand in.

And there's a conversation with coach back.

You imagine it.

Don't get me.

It cannot get picked off.

That's exactly right.

And also maybe a little bit of, you know situational.

You can't get doubled off on a line drive.

You just got to make sure you're out.

Your run is important, but most important is the run at the plate Travis Jackson Hunter Smith excuse me Tucker Smith four pitch walk.

This the fourth pitcher of the day for Taylor.

Here's his strike on the bottom portion of the zone.

The adjustment right there.

That's a good pitcher's pitch.

That was right at the bottom of the zone.

Had a great zone by our home plate umpire today.

She's done a great job back there to Farmer Jackson's all for three today.

He's lined out struck out and grounded out.

He grounds is too short.

Is he hit hard enough for two.

They'll get the lead out.

Relay is well late but they get the out at second base.

Six four on the fielder's choice.

The first out of the inning.

And Saint Joseph will have George here standing up three for three today.

Got a chance to be a big hero.

That's exactly right.

Now you you really want to see you get your lead off guy on first base.

So take advantage of what's what Smith is going to give.

He's kind of like Vandenberg.

He's been he got a little hitch in his giddy up going home right there.

So take advantage of that slow move to the plate, see if he changes it up a little bit.

First pitch to George here misses down in the way.

And what you're seeing and you're alluding to this combo is the fact that he takes a long time to come home because he kind of stops in his motion.

There's a chance you swipe a bag.

I think Bulldogs are a little bit cautious, though.

Perhaps they are.

And I'm running all day on that.

I'm putting green light on them.

You get a good jump, go okay Bose the aggressive mindset one zero to George here.

That one's piped deep to left but foul.

He barrels that one up a long strike nonetheless for George here.

He hit that one hard enough that that would have gone out if it would have had the right angle on it.

Down your right.

Now keep your eyes on George here.

He's going to be a ballplayer in the state of Arkansas.

He is one is a sophomore bright future for that young man.

Travis Jackson's over at first base.

Reached on a fielder's choice one one to George here.

Tries to go opposite field foul that time two.

Now if you're Saint Joseph you're just wanting him to straighten it out.

The left here to right.

Go down the middle.

That's right.

Well what he's done all game.

Two of his hits have gone straight up the middle.

The other one was do the six oh, but he had a little hit and run action right there.

Coach Davis had given your first base run of the green light right the First time he's been on base today.

Leadoff hitter for the Bulldogs.

Big pitch in the game Tucker Smith one ball, two strikes to George here.

One two.

Strike three.

Cold.

Oh my big pitch from Tucker Smith.

And two are gone.

And out away.

We talked about it all game long J.B. Taylor loves to live on the outer part of the plate.

You saw it right there.

Smith made the pitcher's pitch when he needed it.

Most had gone ahead.

One, two.

Paint the black young man.

Let's go to now.

We're one out away.

It's going to be all up to Trevor Jackson, the starting pitcher for Saint Joe's.

He represents the tying run at the plate.

Owen Coney is in the on deck circle.

He'd only bat if Trevor Jackson can find a way to reach Taylor.

One out away from their fourth consecutive state title will be their ninth in school history.

But that last out's always the toughest runner is going to go to second.

That one air mails that run by itself doesn't mean anything.

Taylor knows it.

That was one right there.

You're good just to eat that one.

Anders could have just had catcher's indifference on that one.

Let him go.

That three doesn't mean anything for does.

It just never got a good grip on that one.

You can say that.

Tough one all the way.

Just.

Lolli popped out of his hand.

Two balls.

No strikes to Trevor Jackson.

How big was that out to get George here in a big moment time called by Trevor Jackson.

It's awarded by our home plate umpire Jeff Farmer.

Good job by Jackson.

He's up to because he can afford to take a pitch.

Had a double already today in the first inning.

Drove that running and that down the right field line put runners at second and third.

You're right.

Gave them that first run two oh is upstairs to Trevor Jackson.

So Tucker Smith with first base open.

You don't want to put the tying run aboard.

Yeah.

And if honestly if I'm Taylor right here I like my chances against Kony than I do against Jackson.

He got a base open right here.

Even though it is the tying run.

You just gotta be careful.

Three balls, no strikes up.

And in Saint Joseph.

Not done yet.

First and second to go on tying runs over at first base.

The Go-Ahead run will come to the plate in the form of Owen Kony.

Oh, they've got a good scouting report on Kony.

He's been more of a slap hitter, so if you get it in on him, you're likely to jam him a little bit.

He's gonna like to use the left side of the field.

He's more of a slap hitter, not really a big pull guy.

So what do you want from your infield right now?

Play big, play big.

You got force at any bag right here.

So play big.

Oh, and Cody drove in the game's first run with a line drive.

Sacrifice fly to left.

Tucker Smith starts him off with a fastball.

Strike over the outer half and it's own one.

Yeah.

Good pitch on the outer outer third right there.

That caught the black.

Good job.

And the catcher Anders keeping it in the zone.

Quite glove back there.

That glove side from a righty.

It's tough because it can take you out of the zone with the left handed batter Tucker Smith trying to nail things down for the Tigers.

That one gets away.

Oh boy.

But runners going to move up into scoring position.

And now the Bulldogs with a base hit to the outfield could tie this thing up.

That's exactly right.

Now things tighten up a little bit.

Man it is getting dicey.

Pitcher and hitter.

You can you can imagine the nerves got to be settling in a little bit.

Yeah.

You go from a force at any back.

Now you got to go all the way across.

So anything can happen at this point.

Huge pitch here in the top of the seventh.

Taylor's and out away tying runs at second base.

And that one misses up and away to Owen Coney Patrick Royal who's hit the ball.

Wells in the on deck circle.

He'd only bat if Coney can reach.

Amateur pitchers usually have a tough time throwing to lefties.

You can see all three of those pitches have been outside or way out.

So can he make a small adjustment right here?

Two balls one strike Tucker Smith up and away.

Three and one.

You see the motion from Anders.

He's telling his pitcher settle down.

That one.

Not close.

Three balls and one strike.

And if you're Coney, you're only swinging if you get one pitch.

In one pitch only.

Yeah, I may even be taken in this situation.

We'll see what happens right here.

Tucker Smith's gonna come with a striker.

Load him up.

Three balls.

One.

Strike that one up and away.

Not close.

Saint Joseph, a two out rally, bases loaded.

They trail it 4 to 2.

And Patrick Royal, he's the man of the hour.

Due up.

Yep.

Royal.

Oh, for three today.

He reached on that error last inning.

In the fifth inning.

Sixth inning.

We'll see what happens man.

If you think about it, Kevin pitching visit from Coach Fowler.

He's used a lot of arms.

Short leash as you expected.

You go to Tucker Smith to close things out.

You had a guy that was, you know doing well pitching previously.

Yeah I was a little surprised they made the move from Barton as quick as they did.

It may just been because youngster in that situation he hasn't done very many innings but needed none of these relievers for Taylor has.

It's what's been different this season versus the last three.

And of course they you know this is one of the close.

This has been the closest of the four state championship games they've been in or were never short of a tight finish, always drama in these state championship games.

It seems from two years ago when we had little Rock, Christian and Valley View going into extra innings.

The two nothing, Harbor no hitter against Rogers last year.

This is a great way to kick off weekend of champions for the baseball side.

No kidding.

Now Visit's done.

Tucker Smith comes in set first pitch to Patrick Royal taking all the way and he takes his strike.

That's a big pitch from Tucker Smith.

Yeah there's a, it's probably a myth.

But coaching visit to the mound the next pitch 85% of the time it's a strike.

It paid off.

Kind of one of those things.

That's what I tell them.

I told my kids at 1010.

My.

It is smoked to deep left field going back and making the catch.

Jasper Jones wow what a finish.

Royal makes a bid.

Jones with a heck of a catch.

And Taylor for the fourth straight time there.

The one a chance fourth straight state championship for the Taylor Tigers.

They become the third team in Arkansas high school sports history to win four straight state championships.

What a finish.

The blue hair, the blue hats, the Tigers having a good time.

The dogpile.

And they're on top of the one a world for the fourth consecutive time.

Night time in school history.

We'll step aside from Conway, A42 finish for the Tigers trophy presentation coming up after this.

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One.

What a moment for the Taylor Tigers making history down south.

The Tigers faithful in attendance.

They got to watch two state titles being awarded today.

The softball champs earlier.

And now the baseball program takes home their fourth straight night in school history.

What a moment for those youngsters.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Our good friend Kyle Sutherland Titletown.

He did an exposé on them last year.

Did a great article on them.

Taylor is titletown in South Arkansas.

It all started.

The big double from Taylor.

Wade.

Barton was ice in his veins.

Got the two run double Jesse Humphries an RBI double here that made it 3 to 1.

And little did Taylor know that was going to be the difference.

All that they needed an RBI single later but Saint Joseph just couldn't catch up.

The strikeouts started piling up.

Vandenberg really nice job getting ahead.

They had their chance though.

In the bottom.

Excuse me.

Top of the seventh.

Bases loaded, two outs.

Patrick Royal makes a bid against Tucker Smith.

But there's the catch from Jasper Jones.

The Athletic play to seal the deal for the Tigers.

Yeah great job by Saint Joe's.

Like we said they're going to be back next year.

And we go to look at our next game, the five day final between Sheridan and Benton should be a great match up.

Alyssa and Orange and Kyle Sullivan will be on the court for that game.

JB boy, they are great at what they do.

Be sure to tune in to that five day softball final here in just a bit.

4:00 will be the start time for that.

Benton and Sheridan as the final 4 to 2.

Today Taylor knocks off Saint Joe's.

That's right an official championship apparel and memorabilia for this season are available at Arkansas High School sports.com.

That's going to do it though for us today in Conway, Arkansas at Bear Stadium.

Wow, Kevin, always a pleasure calling with you.

Absolutely came down to the wire.

Bulldogs had a chance late.

But it's Taylor that takes it back home to Tiger Town.

4 to 2.

The finish as they end the season on top of the one.

A world that's going to do it for us here from Conway.

So for my partner Kevin Bohanon, the rest of our wonderful crew saying so long it's A5A softball game I'm JB Brazil.

We'll see you soon.